The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-07-09
WEST INDIAN SEAS.
From the Bahama Islands to Hole In
the Wall.


Especial Correspondence
HAVANA, june 15-Whilc one out Of q
hardy cline may soon tire of ravishing scenes
of tropical luxuriance, II was with something
Ike n pang Of regret that was so soon COM
PEELED 10 leave countless scenes and incidents
which gave promise OF rare interest In DALI
ance and research.
We set our course to the northwest from
Nassau, and in one balmy night, through
which the stars glowcd and the zephyr like
winds brought from near shores innumerablc
suggestions and hints of perennial foliage,
narcotic odors Of passion hearted flowers,
orange groves and ripening pines, we came
with the tender dawn again in sight of the
famous "Iole In the WALL" and found we
had been making our way through vast
field of gulf mud, which, completely covering
the water as far rs sight could discern, at
first sight brought with n rush the memory
OF vast field of ripened buckwleat thatsyou
and so well knew when we were boys upon
| the farm.
This floating gulf mud is one of the most
| interesting forms Of marine life you meet
with in these ATTITUDES. 1t is n different
|
| beaches of our American shores. After cross
| ing that inscrutable mystery, the gulf stream,
| and reaching the "horse ATTITUDES" its ap-
| pearance is quite frequent, and you will see il
| floating about here and there like number
less colored mantles drifting upon the
water. On n nearer approach to the Ba!
hamas it is oftener seen and in wider reaches
of drifts, and here you will come upon it in
great patches, from rods to miles in length
and width while countless sea fowl hover
above it, circle about it and rest and plume
their wings or feed upon it, 1t said to be
always found in vast mats between
the Bahamas aud Bermudas, and this
gulf weed, or mistletoe OF the ocean,
as all other things of the sea, has
its legend, which is that its origin
was to mark the location Of lost con-
tinent which, upon a time in an instant here
sank into the fathomless depths below.
But we were soon abreast Of Hole in the
Wall, and entering the narrow channel be-
tween Abaco island and Great Stirrup Key
which forms the single entrance to passage
across the famous Bahama Banks TO the
West Indies. For two weeks every calcula-
tion had had for its terminal point this Spot.
In fact, Hole in the Wall began and ended
every labored figuring every senseless confab,
every methagarian yarn. had como to i'm
agine it some yawning vortex, through which
we might possibly be fated togo whirling
and seething down TO some rare and Won
drous tropic seq, where all sorts of queer
things would be experienced. In all honesty,
/ had rather dreaded reaching this briny
wonder. But there stood the captain, now
that his eyes beheld it, with look of tri-
umph in his face.
"Damme, u we amt therln lie remarked,
with q wave of his two skinny arms.
SAY, ay, sir; Their she be, sirl" echoed the
first mate, with stupid sheen of victory in
his beady little eyes.
"Jess tho same tough Oh nut, sirl" piped the
second mate.
The man at the wheel yanked another
achaw" OF tobacco, and allowed we war
there.
1t WINS pleasant to be assured of it, but
venturcd to inquire just where this wonder
full Hole in the Wall might be. The captain
biurted out ~ Tho first mate did the
same. So did the second mate The captain
was going to leave me in just the awful state
Of ignorance he found me wallowing at that
very moment. So were the two mates. But
he turned back. The mates also returned
feared they would weep over the matter right
there. But the captain partially overcame
his piteous contempt So did the mates.
"Why, dnmme, therl--right over therl-
have ye got eyes?-whar that hole is. That's
It. That hole use'nd 10 he round hole, with
rocks as big as mountings ON top. 1t was a
pirit fastniss More'n 1,40) craft'vo got
chawed up right ther-lured on the rocks by
piritsl"
"By pirits" echoed the two mates, dreamily
HIn what century," / calmly inquired,
probing little for facts.
"Yes; by piritsl" repeated our captain, with
glare of scorn for my query. thus gaining
time to make the yarn impressive. "The boss
pirt Jess got too swelled up for ennything,
an wuz laid fur ono day by some genuwine
sailors-them's the days as had genuwine
sailors. I'm shoutin'l m they made q landn',
clomb the rocks, skooted on top where the
pirit had his fastnis, an wuz jess helpin their
selves TO dead loads Of plumber when the pirit
teched of a mine he had sot m blowed the top
Of that hole m every dodrotted sailor
higher'n' a frig'ts main slys'lI"
"And what did the pirate blow the hole and
the boys up with, captainr asked respect
fully.
1Oh, -lp be snorted, striding down the
companionway.
aOh, --ln echoed the two mates, as they
followed after.
The fact Is, was not properly narrowed
up that morning. Old salts are killed quick
est by landlubbers, whose knees won't tremble |
at their mGstodonic yarns and was getting
q little tireaof it ell; but went forward TO
the fo'castle, and the sailors there were not |
too proud to talk to me, benighted as / was